Word
interrogate
Phoneticsin·ter·ro·gate, stress on the second syllable
US/ˌɪnˈtɛɹəˌɡeɪt/
UK/ɪntˈɛɹəɡˌeɪt/
Definition
v. to ask someone many questions to get information. In computing, it means to ask a system or a program for details about its current state.
v. to question someone closely or formally to obtain information. In a technical context, it refers to the act of querying a system or database to retrieve specific data or status details.
Examples
“The police interrogated the suspect for several hours.”
“The developer used a debugging tool to interrogate the server's memory to find the source of the error.”
“By interrogating the system's logs, the security team was able to trace the unauthorized access back to a single compromised account within the network.”
Examples
simple
“The police interrogated the suspect for several hours.”
contextual
“The developer used a debugging tool to interrogate the server's memory to find the source of the error.”
complex
“By interrogating the system's logs, the security team was able to trace the unauthorized access back to a single compromised account within the network.”
Real-World Examples
“He later said he was being interrogated by Zambian army officers over two videos he released and alleged he had been assaulted while in custody, which authorities denied.” “Welsh’s knack for absurd social satire is regularly deployed to interrogate serious themes and visit dark places.” Etymology
Learned borrowing from Latin interrogātus, the perfect passive participle of Latin interrogō (“to inquire, interrogate”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/interrogate